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Valley Fever diagnosis won't restrict Davis

Valley Fever diagnosis won't restrict Davis

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Ike Davis

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PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said Sunday morning that Ike Davis is "under no real restriction," but reiterated the club is handling the first baseman as if he has Valley Fever.

Alderson said Davis isn't scheduled to undergo additional tests until the team returns to New York for the beginning of the season early next month and that the club has been told the problem is likely to "resolve itself."

Alderson added that the results of tests administered 12 days ago are not "necessarily conclusive." The blood tests were negative for Valley Fever.
However, he noted the "totality of the evidence and [the doctors'] experience" had made Valley Fever an appropriate diagnosis. He characterized the doctors' conclusion as a "working diagnosis" -- that the diagnosis had not changed since the original results were received, but that the diagnosis had gone "from the generic to the specific in a way."

Davis has been urged not to exhaust himself so as not to compromise his immune system.

"If I feel I need to take a break," Davis said, "I'll step to the side. So far, I haven't had to do that."

There was no indication that Davis would miss time during the regular season.

Manager Terry Collins said Saturday, "We're treating him as if [Valley Fever is] what it is. We can't let him run down. That's what we've been told. We'll give him some days off. He says he can go, and he's been doing everything he's supposed to. But we need to be sure he doesn't push it."

The Mets issued a statement late Saturday after MLB.com reported Davis' situation: "Ike Davis underwent a routine physical exam after his arrival in [Port St. Lucie]. The exam [resulted in] an abnormal chest X-ray. Following additional tests here and in NYC, pulmonary and infectious disease specialists have concluded that Ike likely has Valley Fever, which is expected to resolve itself over time. Ike is not contagious, is not taking any medication for his condition and does not currently exhibit any of the outward symptoms associated with Valley Fever. However, Ike has been instructed to avoid extreme fatigue. No additional tests or examinations are pending, but Ike will have a follow-up exam when the team returns to NYC in early April."